Yarn spool reserve winding apparatus



Nov. 27, 1962 s, FURST 3,065,921

YARN SPOOL RESERVE WINDING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 27, 1962 s. FURsT 3,055,921

YARN SPOOL RESERVE WINDING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VENTOR Nov. 27, 1962 s. FURsT 3,065,921

YARN SPOOL RESERVE WINDING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Wmvrok United States Patent Ofiice 3,065,921 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 3 065,921 YARN SPOOL RESERVE WINDING APPARATUS Stefan Fiirst, Monclren-Gladbach, Germany, assignor to Walter Reiners, M. Gladbach, Germany Filed May 31, 1960, Ser. No. 32,966 Claims priority, application Germany June 18, 1959 5 Claims. (Cl. 24218) My invention relates to apparatus for winding thread, yarn and other filamentary material, hereinafter generally referred to as yarn, and in a more particular aspect to apparatus for winding cross-wound spools or cheeses from which the yarn is later unwound for preparing warp beams, shuttle bobbins, twisted-yarn coils, or for other textile fabricating purposes. In such operations it is desirable that, upon depletion of a cheese, its yarn end is promptly joined with the starting end of another cheese to avoid or minimize stoppage. However, the knotting of the two yarn ends is troublesome since, usually, the trailing yarn end of the depleted cheese is rather short.

It has been proposed, therefore, to provide such cheeses with a few special turns of yarn on the spool core at a location not covered by other turns of yarn. Heretofore such special turns, called reserve winding, have been formed by manually guiding the yarn to the revolving spool core. This leaves much to be desired because it results in an indefinite yarn length of the reserve winding. If this length is too great, it may interfere with the proper jumping of the yarn from the depleted cheese to the new, full cheese, and yarn breakage or entanglement is apt to occur. It has also been proposed to have the reserve winding formed by automatic spooling devices. These are also susceptible to the above-mentioned trouble because the amount of yarn in the reserve winding is not precisely controlled to the minimum length required for fast and secure knot-tying.

It is an object of my invention to provide a crosswound spool (cheese) winding apparatus capable of forming a reserve winding of precisely determined yarn length. Another object is to make such an apparatus simple in construction yet entirely automatic and foolproof in operation.

With these and other objects in view, and in accordance with a feature of my invention, I provide the spool winding apparatus with a measuring device which is constrainedly connected with the spool core or the spool-core holder, and which places an auxiliary yarn guide, required for forming the reserve winding, in operation as soon as a predetermined mass of yarn is wound up or the spool core has completed a given number of revolutions. According to another, more specific, feature the measuring device is connected with the journalling frame for the spool so that the device is placed into zero position, and thus is made ready for starting operation, in dependence upon a movement required for the spool-core exchange,

machine frame and adapted to hold a spool core for joint rotation therewith about the spool axis. A first guide "means, which may be a grooved drum mounted for rotation on the machine frame, guides traverse winding movement of a yarn on an axial, major portion of the spool core. A second or auxiliary guide means, also mounted on the machine frame, is capable of moving between two positions. In a first position it guides the yarn toward an axial portion of the spool core not covered by the traverse Winding movement, to form a reserve winding as the core rotates. In the second position the second or'auxiliary guide means releases the yarn to the first guide means. Movement of the second guide means from the first to the second position is actuated by control means which sense winding of a predetermined length of yarn on the reserve winding portion of the spool core. The yarn length of the reserve winding is determined in the simplest manner by a counting device which counts a predetermined number of spool revolutions, and then shifts the yarn from the second to the first guide means.

According to a preferred feature of my invention the counting device is reset to a zero position whenever the core support is moved from a core-holding to a corereleasing position or vice versa, so that the desired number of spool revolutions for forming the turns of the reserve winding is counted from the last movement of the spool support member.

I prefer to equip the apparatus of my invention with energy storing means which accept energy when the core support member is moved between its core-holding and core-releasing positions, and which releases this energy to actuate release of the yarn from the second to the first guide means when the spool core has made the desired number of reserve winding revolutions. The control means of my invention is thus entirely independent of an external energy supply.

My invention has been found particularly advantageous for starting the winding of cross-wound yarn cheeses in automatic winding equipment in which. spool changes are actuated by automatic mechanical devices. However, the invention is not limited to such automatic spoolexchanging devices but is also applicable to. manually serviced machines.

According to still another feature of my invention, relating particularly to automatic spool winding machines, I combine with the auxiliary yarn guide, serving to guide the yarn during formation of the reserve winding, with a transfer means which transfers the yarn from the first to the second guide means in the proper sequence. This transfer means may be controlled directly or indirectly by the counting device.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and fea tures of my invention, said features being set forth with particularity in the claims annexed hereto, will be apparent from, and will be described in, the following with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view, partly in section, of an automatic cheese winding machine according to a first embodiment of the invention in ready condition for forming a reserve winding.

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 during transition from reserve winding to traverse winding of the spool.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention in a view substantially corresponding to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus being shown during insertion of an empty spool core.

FIG. 5 is a somewhat schematic and partly sectional side view of the device of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 shows a detail of the device of FIG. 4 on enlarged scale.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 3, there are shown elements of an otherwise conventional yarn-cheese winding machine having a driven yarn guiding drum 1 whose shaft 1a is rotatably mounted in the frame structure of the machine (not shown). A reversing spiral groove 11: in the cylindrical surface of the drum guides the traverse movement of the yarn F during winding of the latter, as is well known.

The guide drum 1 is in abutting engagement with the core 2 of a take-up spool onto which the yarn F is to be wound. The core 2 is mounted by means of a spool holder 5 between the two arms of a U.-shaped journalling frame 3. The end 4 of the yarn is clamped fast between the respective abutting faces of the core 2 and of the spool holder 5. The journalling frame 3 is hinged to the machine frame structure in the conventional manner, so that the spool core is held against the drum 1 by gravity.

The spool holder 5 has a support member or shaft 6 which is freely rotatable in the journalling frame 3 and carries a worm 7. The worm engages a worm wheel 8 fixedly mounted on a common shaft with a gear 9 which meshes with a gear segment 10. The segment is pivotally mounted on one arm of a lever 11 and is urged clockwire by a helical spring 12. A cam surface 13 of segment abuts against a handle 19 of the lever 11 under the force of spring 12.

The lever 11 is pivoted to the journalling frame 3 by means of a pin 14 and is biased for counter-clockwise movement about the pin by a helical spring 15. Counterclockwise movement of lever 11 is limited by a stop 16 mounted on the stationary machine frame structure. The end 17 of the lever 11 remote from the segment 10 is hook-shaped so as to form a guide groove 18 to serve as auxiliary guide means for the yarn F, the functions of which will become presently apparent.

As seen in FIG. 3, the journalling frame 3 consists of two pieces or arms which are joined by a pivot 20. The movable arm 3a on which the spool holder 5 is mounted may be released from the spool core 2 by pressing the handle 19 in the direction of the arrow X against the restraint of a strong leaf spring 21 which tends to hold the arm 3a in the core-holding position.

The device operates as follows:

When a new core 2 is to be inserted in the winding apparatus, the handle 19 on lever '11 is moved toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, thereby moving the spool holder 5 axially away from the core 2 into a core-releasing position. A full spool may then be removed. When the releasing movement of the handle 19 commences, the gear 9 is in contact with the cam face 13 of segment 10 as shown in FIG. 2. The ensuing clockwise rotation of lever 11 causes the cam face 13 to travel toward the right past the gear 9 until the teeth of the segment 10 can pass by the gear 9, and the segment is turned clockwise by the spring into the position shown in FIG. 1.

An empty core 2 is now inserted in position between the two arms of the journalling frame 3 and secured in place by releasing the handle 19, whereby the spool holder 5 engages the central bore of the core 2 under the urging of the spring 21. The end 4 of the yarn F is clamped fast simultaneously, and the teeth of gear 9 en gage those of segment 10. The lever 11 is rotated clockwise and the spring 15 is tensioned. In the assembled condition of the device, the guide groove 18 is aligned with the terminal axial portion of the core 2 adjacent to the spool holder 5, and is ready to receive the yarn F for guiding it during formation of a reserve winding on the terminal core portion.

During subsequent rotation of the core 2 by contact with the guide drum 1 the shaft 6 is rotated by the spool holder 5. The worm 7 or shaft 6 causes rotation of worm wheel 8, gear 9 and segment 10. Thus, as the spool holder 5 rotates, there is a direct positive and constraining connection from holder 5 to the revolutionmeasuring device comprising gear segment 10, by means of the transmission elements 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. After the core 2 has made a predetermined number of turns, the last tooth of the segment 10 passes by the gear 9, and the spring 15 rotates the lever 11 from its active or yarn guiding position of FIG. 1, counter-clockwise into the inactive position illustrated in FIG. 2 in which the cam face 13 of the segment 10 abuts against the gear 9. Now, the guide groove 18 is out of alignment with the yarn F as the latter passes to the reserve winding portion of the core 2. The yarn F drops onto the guide drum 1 and the regular traverse winding of the cheese begins. The re- Verse winding device remains idle until it is activated again by the removal of a full spool and insertion of an empty core.

The number of turns of the reserve winding is precisely and reproducibly determined by the transmission ratio of the control means or gear train consisting of the Worm 7, the worm wheel 8, the gear 9, and the segment 10. This ratio can be adjusted at will to suit existing operating conditions, by changing one or several of the elements of the gear train. The length of the several turns of the reserve winding is uniform for all practical purposes, and the length of yarn held in the reserve winding is thus precisely determined by the properties of the gear train which constitutes a turn counting device.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4 in a view corresponding to that of FIG. 1 is generally similar in structure and operation to the first-described embodiment. The handle 19 is replaced by a control rod 22 which can be likewise operated by hand, or can be an element of a linkage (not shown) connecting the reserve winding arrangement to the main controls of an automatic yarn winding machine for actuation in the proper sequence of the automatic cycle.

The movable arm 3a of the journalling frame carries a dog 23 which actuates a normally closed valve 24 in a compressed air line 25. The valve is spring-biased to block passage of air from a source of pressure through one portion of the line 25, and to simultaneously vent the other portion of the line to the atmosphere. The valve connects the two portions of the line 25 and closes the vent when the spool holder is withdrawn from the core-holding to the core-releasing position illustrated in FIG. 4. The valve 24 which is fixedly mounted on the machine frame admits air through the line 25 to a pneumatic cylinder 26 in which a piston (not shown) is slidably mounted. A pin 28 on the piston rod 27 engages a corresponding opening in a yarn transfer arm 29 which is pivoted to the machine frame by means of a pin 30 near one end of the drum 1 and is urged to the position shown in full lines by a spring 34 secured to the machine frame 35. The arm 29 extends over the entire effective length of the yarn guiding drum 1 and terminates in a catch 31 from which an arcuate portion 29a of the arm sweeps across the length of the drum.

When air is admitted to the cylinder 26 by the valve 25, the yarn transfer arm 29 is rotated clockwise to the position 29' outlined in broken lines in FIG. 4. Wherever the yarn F may be located on the surface of the yarn guiding drum 1 at this moment, it is caused to slide along the arcuate arm portion 2911 into the catch 31 which, in the position 29 of arm 29, is aligned with the yarn guide groove 18 of the lever 11 as seen on enlarged scale in FIG. 6. The radial positions of the catch 31 and of the hook-shaped end 17 of lever 11 are shown in a somewhat schematic side-elevational sectional view in FIG. 5. The previously completed spool 32 has been released from the spool holder 5 and has dropped on a sheet metal bracket 33 which is shaped in such a manner that the yarn F is positioned for clamping between the core 2 of the next spool and the spool holder 5. When the movable arm of the journalling frame is permitted to return to the core-holding position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 under the urging of the spring 21, the dog 4 permits the valve 24 to return to its initial position in which the cylinder 26 is vented to the atmosphere, and the spring 34 is capable of returning the arm 29 to the position shown by full lines in FIG. 4.

The operations involved in changing spool cores, namely opening the journalling frame, removal of a completed spool, inserting an empty core, and closing the journalling frame, automatically reset the counting device to zero, and initiate the next counting operation. The auxiliary yarn guide is brought into its operative position for guiding the yarn during formation of the reserve winding, and the transfer arm is caused to transfer the yarn, as it comes from its supply coil, from the yarn guiding drum to within reach of the auxiliary yarn guide. The changing operation may also serve to automatically charge the springs or other means for storing energy to be employed subsequently for actuating the return movement of the auxiliary yarn guide and of the transfer arm to their respective inactive, yarn-releasing positions.

The device of my invention automatically produces reserve windings of uniform yarn length on spools wound by machines, and is particularly suited for automatic winding apparatus, including those in which the take-up spools are exchanged by automatic means. The operation of core replacement and start-up of a new spool are made faster and safer. Removal of a full spool automatically initiates the winding of reserve turns of yarn on the next empty core.

I claim:

1. A yarn-package winding apparatus, comprising a journalling frame structure, a spool support member rotatably mounted on said frame structure and adapted to hold a spool core for joint rotation therewith about the core axis, said support member comprising a shaft axially displaceable relative to said frame structure between a core-holding position and a core-releasing position, a spool-driving drum having a drum axis parallel to the core axis and being engageable with the yarn wound onto the core for driving said spool core, said drum having a helical guiding groove for reciprocating the yarn along a given axial portion of the core as the yarn is being wound onto the core by rotation of said drum, an auxiliary yarn guide means movably mounted on said frame structure and displaceable between an active guiding position and an inactive position, said auxiliary guide means when in said active position being engageable with the yarn for guiding it toward a second axial portion of the core for winding a reserve winding thereon during rotation of said support member shaft relative to said frame structure, said inactive position being remote from the yarn so that said auxiliary guide means when moving to said inactive position releases the yarn to said drum groove; and control means directly connected to said support member shaft and in controlling connection with said auxiliary guide means, said control means being directly and constrainedly connected to said shaft of said core support member for actuation by movement of the latter between said holding and said releasing positions and for response to said rotation of said support member so as to move said auxiliary guide means from said active to said inactive position when said support member has rotated a predetermined number of revolutions after moving from said releasing to said holding position.

2. In winding apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said control means comprising energy storage means effective to store energy when said core support member moves from one to the other position thereof, and means for releasing said storage means to move said auxiliary guide means to said inactive position after said support member has completed said predetermined number of revolutions.

3. In winding apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said energy storage means comprising a spring connected to said core-support member to be loaded thereby and connected to said auxiliary guide means for urging the latter in the direction toward said inactive position.

4. A yarn cheese winding apparatus, comprising a journalling frame, spool-core holder means mounted on said frame and defining a spool axis during winding operation, said holder means comprising a core support member comprising a shaft rotatable relative to said frame structure for joint rotation with the spool core accommodated on said holder means, a driving drum extending parallel to said spool axis and positioned for spool-driving engagement with the yarn wound onto the core, said drum having a helical guiding groove for reciprocating the yarn along a given axial portion of the core as the yarn is being wound onto the core by rotation of said drum, auxiliary yarn guide means movably mounted on said frame structure and displaceable between an active guiding position and an inactive position, said auxiliary guide means when in said active position being engageable with the yarn for guiding it toward a second axial portion of the core for Winding a reserve winding thereon during rotation of said support member shaft relative to said frame structure, said inactive position being remote from the yarn so that said auxiliary guide means when moving to said inactive position releases the yarn to said drum groove, yarn transfer means operably connected for actuation by said arm during movement of the latter into said corereleasing position for transferring the yarn from said drum to said auxiliary guide means; and control means directly geared to said support member shaft and connected to said auxiliary guide means so as to respond positively and constrainedly to the winding of a predetermined length of yarn on said second axial portion for moving said auxiliary guide means from said active to said inactive position.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, said yarn transfer means comprising a pivotally mounted yarn transfer arm and a rod operably connected to said transfer arm and to said holder means arm and actuatable by movement of said holder means arm into said core-releasing position to pivot said transfer arm in a first direction, said transfer arm being provided with an arcuate portion axially coextensive in one position thereof with at least said given axial portion of the core for engaging yarn in said grooved portion of said drum, said transfer arm further having a yarn-engaging catch at one end of said arcuate portion, said transfer arm and catch being dimensioned so that upon being pivoted in said first direction said catch becomes aligned with said auxiliary yarn guide and with said second axial portion of said core, whereby movement of said holder means arm to its core-releasing position causes said arcuate portion and said catch to pivot in said first direction and together entrain the yarn in any traversing position of said helical groove across the face of said drum and to restrainedly guide the yarn along a path through said auxiliary yarn guide means and in alignment with said second axial portion, said control means comprising a gear train between said support member and said auxiliary guide means, said rod being actuatable by movement of said holder means arm into its core-holding position to pivot said yarn transfer arm back to said one position thereof simultaneously with the movement of said auxiliary guide means to said inactive position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,926,049 Kelley Sept. 12, 1933 1,946,506 Swanson et al Feb. 13, 1934 2,147,212. Parks Feb. 14, 1939 2,156,472 Dersen May 2, 1939 2,605,974 Keith Aug. 5, 1952 2,638,279 Winslow May 12, 1953 2,769,299 Keith Nov. 6, 1956 

